MANHATTAN, Kan. – Drought conditions, a higher-than-normal water bill, or
restrictions imposed by a septic system may prompt consumers to think about
water conservation, but preserving natural resources makes sense any time, said
Marilyn Bode, a Kansas State University housing specialist.

Doing so, she added, also will reduce water and utility bills.

Conserving water in the home is not difficult, Bode said. For example, people
often do not realize that the toilet accounts for the largest single use (28
percent) of water in the home. Reducing the water needed to flush the toilet can
save an average household about 7,500 gallons of water per year.

Toilets made before 1970 use about five gallons per flush; late '70s toilets
use about 3.5 gallons per flush. Replacing an older toilet with a new, low-flow
toilet, which is mandated for new construction by the National Energy Policy and
Conservation Act, costs about $320. The cost of water saved will offset
replacement cost over the long term; consumers also are encouraged to check with
their local utility company to see if a rebate on replacement is available, she
said.

A less expensive remedy requires inexpensive materials: Fill a plastic
beverage bottle with sand or water, tighten the lid, and place it in the toilet
tank (or use two bricks sealed in a plastic bag) to displace water and save
about one-half gallon with each flush. Displacing the water should not affect
the flush of a pre-1970s toilet.

Another way to save water and reduce the water bill is to check for leaks –
about 20 percent

of all toilets leak. A leaky toilet loses
an average of 15 gallons per day, which adds up to more than 5,000 gallons a
year. Water loss usually is more expensive than the price of getting the toilet
fixed – adjusting the float arm or replacing the flapper may be all that's
needed. A leak can be obvious: a toilet may make a noise as it runs or the floor
around it may be damp or wet. If a leak is suspected, but not obvious, drop a
few drops of food coloring in the tank. If the color shows up in the bowl 15
minutes later, the toilet has a leak.

Consumers also can check for a leak by reading their water meter. Jot down
the meter reading and the time of day to the minute. Plan not to use any water
during the test period, which should be an hour or more. (To simplify testing,
plan the test at a time when you will be away from home for a few hours.
Remember, however, to shut off the ice maker, etc.) After the test time has
elapsed, check the water meter reading again. Subtract the second reading from
the first to verify a leak, said Bode, who is with K-State Research and
Extension.

Using the toilet to dispose of trash is considerably more expensive than
using a wastebasket, she said.

"In a typical household, bathing and showering account for 25 to 60
gallons of water per person per day. If a shower lasts longer than seven
minutes, taking a bath will use less water. Replacing a shower head can pay for
itself in two years or less. Newer shower heads are required to use 2.5 gallons
of water per minute or less. (Older models used five or more gallons per
minute.) Newer shower heads also may offer some benefits, like a massage
setting," she said.

Learning to take a 'Navy' shower also can reduce water use when showering.
With limited water on shipboard, sailors

were taught to get wet, turn off
the water, lather, and then turn the water back on to rinse, said
Bode, who offers these water-saving tips:

* Install aerators on faucets to stretch water use and minimize splashing.

* Turn off the water while brushing teeth: a family can save as much as 10
gallons a day – 3,650 gallons a year.

* Fill the bathtub half full. Close the drain before running water; adjust
temperature as needed.

* Run the dishwasher only when it's fully loaded. Dishwashers produced after
1994 use five to seven gallons of water per load. Water-and energy-saving models
use less water than washing a similar load by hand. Newer dishwashers also do a
better job, so less pre-rinsing is required, Bode said.

* When washing dishes by hand, rinse at one time, rather than one at a time
under running water.

* Chill drinking water in refrigerator, rather than let water run to cool
before filling a glass.

* Adjust water level in the washing machine to match the load; choose warm or
cold water wash. For more information on conserving water in the home, contact
the local Extension office.

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Sidebar or box:

Water, Water....everywhere?

The American Water Works Association estimates that the average American
family uses 28 percent of the water used in their home to flush the toilet; 22
percent to wash clothes; 21 percent to take showers; 12 percent from faucets; 9
percent to take baths; 5 percent toilet leakage; and 3 percent to wash dishes.

– Source: K-State Research and Extension

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Pullquote:

The average person uses 80 to 100 gallons of water a day.

– Marilyn Bode, K-State Research and Extension Housing Specialist

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K-State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas
State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension
Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the
well-being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds,
the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension
offices and research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K-State
campus in Manhattan.